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Nicky Winmar’s stand a catalyst for healing

20 April 2023
Indigenous men performing a Healing Ceremony on a football oval.
Nicky Winmar, Uncle Richard Walley and dancer Derek Nannup Jnr performing Nyumbi Middar.
Three Indigenous men stand in a row, smiling.
Gilbert McAdam, Nicky Winmar and Nathan Lovett-Murray in the locker room.

On Tuesday night, Nicky Winmar’s iconic moment was recognised and celebrated with a traditional Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Ngarra Jarra Noun – a Healing Ceremony. The event was for all Australians wanting to reflect and engage on a journey of healing and reconciliation.

On Tuesday night, Nicky Winmar’s iconic moment was recognised and celebrated with a traditional Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung  Ngarra Jarra Noun – a Healing Ceremony.

Thirty years ago, Nicky Winmar and teammate Gilbert McAdam were subject to ongoing racist taunts from Collingwood fans at Victoria Park.

At the end of the game Nicky turned to his abusers, lifted his shirt and pointing to his skin said ‘I’m black and I’m proud to be black.’ 

The famous photo was captured by photographer Wayne Ludbey – in attendance at the event this week.

Nicky’s stand against the racism he and fellow First Nations players received daily was one of the most public responses to racism ever seen on a national level. These experiences of racism are shared by First Nations peoples to this day.

 

Nathan Lovett-Murray, event organiser, retired AFL player and great grandchild of famed activist and sportsman Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls, said that all Australians should take pride in Nicky’s stand and what it means for reconciliation in Australia. 

‘A Healing Ceremony is an Aboriginal tradition that has been around for tens of thousands of years. The event at Victoria Park celebrates Nicky’s brave stand and encourages all participants to engage in a deeply personal journey,’ he said.

Former St Kilda player Gilbert McAdam spoke about the racism and vitriol directed at First Nations players, he also spoke about his pride in himself and those players who, despite it all, stood tall and played well.

‘This event is a time for healing and closure,’ he said to Winmar. ‘I’m really proud of being a part of history with you.’

Winmar, surrounded by his family, mates and fellow players said he wanted the event to engage sports fans on a deeper level, for all Indigenous sportspeople to receive the respect they deserved.

'Thirty years is a long time,’ he said.

The Healing Ceremony was supported by performances by Kutcha Edwards and traditional dance groups Djirri Djirri, Murrundaya Yepenga Dance Troupes, The Fighting Gunditjmara, Koorie Youth Will Shake Spear and Wulumbarra.

Find out more

The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) supported this event as part of the Local Investment Funding (LIF) grant program which is established under the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) budget location. The program has a discretionary pool of funds, utilising funds from across IAS programs 1.1 to 1.5. 

The intended outcome of the LIF is to enable the NIAA to support urgent, small-scale, local, community needs to benefit Indigenous Australians and facilitate positive community engagement with government initiatives. For more information, or to apply for funding, please visit Grant Connect.